Ladakh is strategically located between China and Pakistan. As a measure to win hearts and minds of locals, discuss the Border Area Development Programmes (BADP) by the Central Government and civic actions by the Army. Also discuss demand of promulgation of provision of the Sixth Schedule of constitution for Ladakh.
Approach · directive: “discuss”
What it asks · Discuss how border development schemes and the Army's civic action build trust among Ladakh's people, and examine the demand to extend the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
The question has 3 parts — answer each
- Discuss the Border Area Development Programme of the Central Government as a hearts-and-minds measure in Ladakh
- Discuss the Army's civic action in Ladakh
- Discuss the demand to extend the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh: its basis, the issues and a way forward
Open with · In a high-altitude border region facing two adversaries, a prosperous and loyal population is the first line of defence — the Army's 'eyes and ears'.
Cover
- BADP (MHA, since 1986–87): roads, schools, health, water and livelihood projects in villages close to the international border.
- Vibrant Villages Programme-I (2023) covers northern-border blocks, including Ladakh: connectivity, tourism, livelihoods and checking out-migration.
- Army's Operation Sadbhavana: Army Goodwill Schools, medical and veterinary camps, women's vocational centres, education tours.
- Other civic action: disaster relief, local recruitment (Ladakh Scouts), porters and road-building that bring jobs and goodwill.
- Sixth Schedule demand: since UT status in 2019, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance seek safeguards for land, jobs, culture and fragile ecology.
- Issues: the Sixth Schedule now covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram only; extension needs a constitutional amendment; border-security sensitivities.
- Middle path: 2025 domicile and reservation regulations framed through the MHA's High-Powered Committee; stronger Hill Councils, statutory land and job safeguards, sustained dialogue.
Close with · Development with dignity — border programmes plus credible safeguards — keeps Ladakh's people at the centre of national security.
Add value (verified)
- Under BADP, 38,715 projects worth ₹7,935.05 crore have been completed in 16 States and 2 UTs. PIB — Border Area Development Scheme (11 March 2026) ↗“Under Border Area Development Programme, 38715 projects of estimated cost ₹7935.05 crore have been completed in 16 States and 2 UTs in various sectors including livelihood projects.”
- The Army runs seven Army Goodwill Schools in Ladakh under Operation Sadbhavana (2023 figure). PIB — Operation Sadbhavana in Ladakh (3 February 2023) ↗“Indian Army is presently running seven (07) Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) under ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’ in Ladakh Region.”
- In 2025 the Centre put in place domicile and reservation regulations for Ladakh, framed through the MHA's High-Powered Committee with public representatives; the UT then began its first UPSC recruitment, for 359 gazetted posts. Administration of UT of Ladakh — UT Administration initiates filling vacant posts after formalising domicile and reservation rules (3 July 2025) ↗“Developed in consultation with public representatives through a High-Powered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the framework includes robust definitions of domicile, enhanced reservation provisions”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2026, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 218 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Wedged between China and Pakistan, Ladakh's security rests as much on a prosperous, trusting population as on troops: border villagers are the Army's eyes and ears.
Border Area Development Programme
- Run by the MHA since 1986-87 for villages near the international border: roads, schools, health, water and livelihoods; 38,715 projects worth ₹7,935 crore completed in 16 States and 2 UTs.
- The Vibrant Villages Programme (2023) adds connectivity, tourism and livelihoods in northern-border blocks, including Ladakh, to check out-migration.
Army's civic action
- Operation Sadbhavana: seven Army Goodwill Schools in Ladakh (2023), medical and veterinary camps, women's vocational centres and educational tours for the young.
- Local recruitment into the Ladakh Scouts, porter and road-building work and disaster relief bring jobs and goodwill.
Sixth Schedule demand
- Since UT status in 2019, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have sought Sixth Schedule protection for land, jobs, culture and a fragile ecology.
- Issues: the Schedule now covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram only; extension needs a constitutional amendment; security sensitivities on a two-front border.
- Middle path: the 2025 domicile and reservation regulations, framed through the MHA's High-Powered Committee; stronger Hill Councils, statutory land and job safeguards and sustained dialogue can follow.
Development with dignity, border programmes plus credible safeguards, keeps Ladakh's people at the centre of national security.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.